Signal phishing campaign targets Germany’s Bundestag President Julia Klöckner
Signal phishing campaign targets Germany’s Bundestag President Julia Klöckner
Publish Date: 2026-04-24 10:03:00
Source Domain: securityaffairs.com
Signal phishing campaign targets Germany’s Bundestag President Julia Klöckner
Pierluigi Paganini
April 24, 2026
Germany’s Bundestag President Klöckner was targeted in a Signal phishing attack via a fake CDU group chat.
Germany’s Bundestag President Julia Klöckner has reportedly become the latest European political figure targeted through a Signal-based phishing attack, reported Der Spiegel. The incident is another reminder that even trusted messaging apps can become entry points when attackers go after the person, not the platform.
The attack targeted Klöckner’s phone through a Signal group chat linked to CDU officials. Chancellor Friedrich Merz was reportedly included but not compromised, and at least one other CDU lawmaker was also affected.
“Chancellor Friedrich Merz is also part of the group, although German domestic intelligence reportedly found no evidence his phone had been compromised. Der Spiegel also reported that at least one other CDU lawmaker was affected.” reported Politico.
What makes this case notable is not just the target, but the method. Attackers did not need to break Signal’s encryption. Instead, they appear to have used a phishing-style technique to trick users into revealing sensitive information, including PIN codes. That is a classic example of how cybercriminals often bypass strong technology by exploiting human trust.
The timing is also important. European cybersecurity and intelligence agencies had already warned earlier this month about a campaign in which attackers posed as a fake Signal support chatbot. The goal was simple: lure users into handing over authentication details. Germany’s domestic intelligence service had issued a similar warning in February, which shows that the threat was already known before this incident surfaced.
This matters because Signal has long been viewed as a secure communications tool. The European…
